Political Science

Insiders Reconsider Political, Social, and Theological Meaning

Edited by Mark Labberton

Evangelicalism in America has cracked. What defines the evangelical social and political vision—is it the gospel or is it culture? Edited by Mark Labberton, this collection of essays offers a diverse and provocative set of reflections from evangelical insiders who wrestle with the question of what it means to be evangelical in today's polarized climate.

An Untold Story of American Religious Freedom

by Brandon J. O'Brien

Historian Brandon O'Brien unveils an untold story of religious liberty in America. Between theocracy and secularism, Baptist pastor Isaac Backus contended for a third way—religious liberty and freedom of conscience for all Americans, regardless of belief. Backus's theological ideas impacted his era, giving us insights into how people of faith today can navigate political debates and work for the common good.

Understanding and Overcoming Violence Against Women

by Elaine Storkey

Acts of violence against women produce more deaths, disability, and mutilation than cancer, malaria, and traffic accidents combined. How and why has this violence become so prevalent? Elaine Storkey offers a rigorously researched overview of this global pandemic, exploring how violence is structured into the very fabric of societies and cultures around the world.

A Christian Perspective

by Fred Van Geest

Christians are called to be informed about political science as they seek to be ambassadors for Christ in a diverse society. In this introductory textbook, Fred Van Geest presents a balanced Christian perspective on political science, providing a nonpartisan guide to the key concepts, institutions, and policies that shape politics today.

Understanding the Roots of Global Rage

by Meic Pearse

For anyone who's wondered why people around the world seem to hate the West so much, Historian Meic Pearse offers thoughtful, balanced and challenging answers. He shows how many of the underlying assumptions of Western civilization directly oppose and contradict the cultural and religious values of significant people groups and provides a starting point for dialogue and reconciliation.

The Place of Religious Arguments in the Public Square

by Brendan Sweetman

Should religion and politics mix? Brendan Sweetman says it can, and that in fact, politics without some religious belief contributes little to civil society. Likewise, religion is in no danger when it takes its proper place in political debate. For any perceptive reader who wants to explore the relationship between religion and politics, or culture wars issues.

Just War and Christian Tradition

by J. Daryl Charles

Pacifism, jihad and militarism--are these the only alternatives to global injustice? J. Daryl Charles considers the "just war" teaching of the church throughout history, comparing it with both pacifism and jihad/militarism and addressing the unique challenges of international injustice and global terrorism.

The Crisis of Christianity and Politics

by Greg Forster

Christian thinking about involvement in human government was not born (or born again!) with the latest elections or with the founding of the Moral Majority in 1979. Greg Forster introduces the history of Christian political thought traced out in Western culture—a culture with a fragmented view of the proper relationship of government and religion.

From the Scopes Trial to the Obama Administration

by Kenneth J. Collins

Kenneth J. Collins narrates the turbulent history of American evangelical political engagement since the 1920s, and the fragmentation of the movement?s public voice since the 1970s. Arguing that the gospel cannot be reduced to a political idiom, Collins proposes a path for evangelical identity that avoids both fundamentalism and liberalism.

The Case for Prudence in the Public Square

by Clarke Forsythe

Leading policy strategist Clarke Forsythe campaigns for a recovery of the virtue of prudence and for its application by policymakers and citizens to contemporary public policy. In particular he applies these concepts to the pro-life debate, arguing for political prudence and gradual change as the most effective way to achieve political and legislative goals.